Osterman, Denny pitch one-hit gems against Cougars

UT throws one-two punch at UH

STEVEN THOMSON, Chronicle Correspondent

Published 6:30 am, Sunday, February 6, 2005

AUSTIN - Although Texas pitcher Cat Osterman needs little help to win games, she got plenty from the UT offense and the Houston defense during a 4-0 victory over the Cougars on Saturday at McCombs Field.

In the second game, freshman Meghan Denny, last year's Texas Gatorade Player of the Year for two-time Class 4A state champion Crowley, came within one out of a perfect game before earning a one-hit 6-0 win.

All eyes were on Osterman in the season opener. The returning Olympian from Cypress Springs didn't disappoint, striking out 15 in a one-hit victory.

It was not vintage Osterman, who appeared to struggle with her control and walked three. Still, Kim Nesloney had the only UH hit, a one-out single in the sixth.

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"It wasn't great, but it was OK," Osterman said. "The umpire and I were not (agreeing). I was not adjusting to his zone."

Texas made Osterman's day easier with two runs in the first and another in the second. Tina Boutelle had hits in both frames, scoring the Longhorns' first and driving in Desiree Williams with the third.

"It was good to have (Osterman) back," Boutelle said. "It goes back to the old days of the Katy Cruisers and my first years here."

Houston encountered a lot of difficulty with defensive situations. Texas scored both its runs in the first inning when Houston misplayed first-and-third double-steal throws.

The Cougars failed to get an out on a potential double-play grounder hit by Boutelle in the fourth that led to another run.

"One of the things a good team can do is pick apart your defense," UH coach Kyla Holas said.

Denny almost stole the spotlight from Osterman. She retired the first 20 Cougars batters before giving up a double to Kristen Glowacz. Denny finished with 16 strikeouts.

"I don't think you can find a better one-two in the country right now," Holas said.

In other games

•
Baylor wins twice
— No. 17 Baylor defeated Centenary 8-0 and then No. 22 Illinois 3-1 during the second day of the Getterman Classic in Waco.
Senior shortstop
Kim Wilmoth
sparked the Lady Bears in the opener, going 3-for-3 against Centenary with two runs, two RBIs and two doubles.

• Sam Houston State 6, McNeese State 4 — A.J. McAvoy's two-run homer in the top of the fifth inning proved to be the game-winner as Sam Houston State beat McNeese State in the Mardi Gras Classic in Lafayette, La.